A part of Pakhowal Road at Vikas Nagar Chowk in Ludhiana caved in on Monday, triggering serious safety concerns among commuters and local residents. The collapse, which left a gaping hole in the middle of the busy stretch, is being attributed to the ongoing 24-hour water supply project work in the area.
Immediate Safety Measures
Following the cave-in, tree branches and stones have been placed around the hole to warn drivers and prevent accidents. However, residents and shopkeepers have expressed dissatisfaction with these makeshift arrangements, calling for more permanent and effective measures.
“This is one of the busiest points of the city and such negligence can lead to a major mishap. The situation becomes dangerous especially at night,” said a nearby medicine store owner, highlighting the risks posed to nighttime traffic.
Recurring Issue
Area resident Arvind Sharma pointed out that this is not the first time the road has caved in. “It is one of the main roads in the city and the authorities should be careful. The cave-in should be repaired soon to avert any untoward incident,” he said. Another resident shared a close call, stating, “On Sunday night, I had a narrow escape as I was unable to see the caved-in spot but thankfully, I managed to save myself.”
Community Response
Resident welfare associations have raised the issue with the Municipal Corporation, emphasizing that repeated cave-ins point to poor planning and lack of coordination between civic departments. They warned that if immediate repairs are not undertaken, the situation could worsen during the monsoon season, potentially disrupting traffic flow and endangering lives.
The incident has reignited debates about the quality of urban infrastructure and the need for better oversight of development projects to ensure public safety.
